Air Wings is an online multiplayer deathmatch-style game that sees the player pilot a paper airplane in an attempt to shoot down the enemy and score as many points as possible. While the game is free to play, there’s a severe lack of content on offer, therefore the in-app purchases become almost essential.

To start I should probably point out that due to the online nature of the game, Air Wings requires a Game Center account and active internet connect to be able to play. There is a training mode, but after that it’s online only.

The idea is simple; the player pilots a paper airplane around an arena-based level, facing off against an online opponent. The game is points based, so collecting a gold coin (of which there are many throughout every level) will earn the player 50 points, shooting down an opponent will bag 1000, and destroying an enemy three times and winning the match sees an additional award of 2000 points. These all add to the player’s Game Center Air Wings leaderboard.

Now, bearing in mind the planes are made of paper, real weapons are out of the question. Instead Air Wings uses everyday objects and turns them into deadly projectiles which are scattered about the place. Expect to use pencils as missiles, rolled-up paper balls as bullets, suction cups as timed explosives, rubber bands as ricocheting bullets, and firecrackers are floating bombs. It’s a very neat little touch.

Controlling the planes is incredibly easy; simply tilt the iOS device left or right. It's very responsive, with the plane's turning speed matching how quickly the iOS device was tilted. All other relevant icons, such as the fire button, are all well placed and easily reached.

Air Wings also looks very nice. The planes are nicely modelled, and arenas are based on locations one might see every day, such as a warehouse full of boxes.

The only downside is that, while the game is free to play, content is severely lacking with only one plane and two levels on offer. In-app purchases are offered, with the likes of better planes (all with different stats) and new levels becoming accessible. These are a necessity to get the most out of the game.

Air Wings is an enjoyable and also surprisingly competitive game. The controls have been done well, and the matches are free from lag. Players with a couple of dollars spare for the in-app purchases should definitely give this a try.